This was Sinéad O'Connor's debut album, recorded when she was 20 years old. The track "Mandinka" made it to #17 in the UK singles charts.

Allmusic gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars:

Quote:

Sinéad O'Connor's debut, The Lion and the Cobra, was a sensation upon its 1987 release, and it remains a distinctive record, finding a major talent striving to achieve her own voice. Like many debuts, it's entirely possible to hear her influences, from Peter Gabriel to Prince and contemporary rap, but what's striking about the record is how she synthesizes these into her own sound -- an eerie, expansive sound heavy on atmosphere and tortured passion.